South Bromsgrove High win debating competition

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Elliot Mitchell and Alex Aston from Waseley Hills High with MP Sajid Javid and James Downing and Lucy Morris from South Bromsgrove High School. Picture by Tristan Harris.

SOUTH Bromsgrove High School was crowned champions for the second year running in the annual district schools debating competition last Friday (February 28).

In the first round, North Bromsgrove High School were tasked with propositioning that 'This House believes Britain should leave the EU', with Bromsgrove School opposing the motion.

Next up were South Bromsgrove High School propositioning the motion that 'This house believes England should have a referendum on leaving the UK', with Hagley High opposing.

The third battle saw Haybridge propositioning 'This House believes the speed limit on British motorways should be increased to 80mph' and Woodrush had to argue against.

And in the fourth motion Waseley had to argue in favour of the house believing coursework should be replaced by a 100 per cent examination. South Bromsgrove High School's second team were tasked with opposing.

All schools were marked on their performances, with South Bromsgrove High and Waseley Hills High going through to the final for amassing the most points.

The final was the most closely contested in the four years the event has been held with South narrowly edging out the Rubery school.

As well as the winning trophy, the two students from South - James Downing, 17, and Lucy Morris, 16, - will get to attend a Prime Minister's Question Time session and have lunch with MP Sajid Javid afterwards.

Lucy said: "I did really enjoy that - it was nice for South to win it two years in a row."

James added: "I'd like to give great thanks to the staff who got us here - it's a credit to them."

The Waseley team which finished runners-up featured 17-year-old Elliot Mitchell and Alex Aston, 16.

Elliot said: "It was eye-opening, I thought we'd fall at the first hurdle and I certainly didn't expect us to make the final."

Alex added: "It was a really good experience."

Mr Javid said: "All the schools did really well - the quality has been going up every year.

"It was the closest run contest we have ever had, but in the end, there can only be one winner.

"Congratulations to the winners and the runners-up."

Mr Javid organised the debating competition for the fourth year running and the judging panel consisted of him, Sue Bailey from Gough Bailey Wright, Richard Harper, the Bromsgrove Court Leet bailiff, John Weston, the president of the Bromsgrove Society and Bromsgrove Standard editor Tristan Harris.